Maternal and fetal outcomes in Latin American SLE pregnancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects women, especially during their reproductive years, leading to increased risks during pregnancy. Latina women develop SLE at a younger age, which increases their susceptibility to pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to systematically review maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant Latina women with SLE and to perform a meta-analysis to assess specific risks associated with the disease.

Decompressive Craniectomy and Hinged Craniotomy for Traumatic Brain Injury: Experience in Two Centers in a Middle-Income Country.

Objective: The goal of a decompressive craniectomy (DC) or a hinge craniotomy (HC), is to treat intracranial hypertension and reduce mortality. Traditionally, the decompression procedure has been performed with cranial bone removal. However, decompression and repositioning the cranial bone, named HC, has been presented as an alternative for certain cases.

Novel Transfer Learning Approach for Detecting Infected and Healthy Maize Crop Using Leaf Images.

Maize is a staple crop worldwide, essential for food security, livestock feed, and industrial uses. Its health directly impacts agricultural productivity and economic stability. Effective detection of maize crop health is crucial for preventing disease spread and ensuring high yields.

Biochemical Control in a Colombian Cohort of Patients With Acromegaly: A 12-Month Follow-Up Study (2017-2023).

Background: Acromegaly, although rare, is associated with multiple manifestations and complications; its high morbidity and mortality makes it a challenge. Treatment involves surgery and pharmacological therapies, focusing on biochemical normalization. This study analyzes the biochemical control in Colombian patients with acromegaly, seeking to improve the understanding of the effects of treatments in the management of the disease.

Level of Satisfaction Among Patients Using Insulin Administered by Pen vs Vial/Syringe. An Observational Prospective Study.

Purpose: To determine the satisfaction of patients with diabetes mellitus who used subcutaneous insulin application devices in Colombia.

Patients And Methods: An observational prospective study of patients with diabetes mellitus receiving insulin treatment in Colombia. Sociodemographic, comorbidity and pharmacological data were taken from a drug dispensing database.

[Post-COVID-19 Functional status scale: Concordance between evaluator-administered versus self-assessed version in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome].

Introduction: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 may present sequelae which are called Post COVID-19 Syndrome or Long COVID in which physical, psychological and/or social complications are evident. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agreement of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS) of the evaluator-administered version vs patient self-assessed in post-COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Observational study in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with subsequent recovery.

Interplay of Transcriptomic Regulation, Microbiota, and Signaling Pathways in Lung and Gut Inflammation-Induced Tumorigenesis.

Inflammation can positively and negatively affect tumorigenesis based on the duration, scope, and sequence of related events through the regulation of signaling pathways. A transcriptomic analysis of five pulmonary arterial hypertension, twelve Crohn's disease, and twelve ulcerative colitis high throughput sequencing datasets using R language specialized libraries and gene enrichment analyses identified a regulatory network in each inflammatory disease. IRF9 and LINC01089 in pulmonary arterial hypertension are related to the regulation of signaling pathways like MAPK, NOTCH, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis c infection.

Statistical methods to adjust for the effects on intervention compliance in randomized clinical trials where precision treatment rules are being developed.

Background: Heterogeneity of treatment effects (HTEs) can occur because of either differential treatment compliance or differential treatment effectiveness. This distinction is important, as it has action implications, but it is unclear how to distinguish these two possibilities statistically in precision treatment analysis given that compliance is not observed until after randomization. We review available statistical methods and illustrate a recommended method in secondary analysis in a trial focused on HTE.

Innovameter: Agent-based modeling of innovation determinants in American and European countries.

This article discusses the dynamics of innovation in America and Europe, focusing on variables such as access to technology, education, and life expectancy. To do this, the article proposes an agent-based model called the Innovameter. The dependent variable is the Global Innovation Index.

In Silico Evaluation of Potential NDM-1 Inhibitors: An Integrated Docking and Molecular Dynamics Approach.

Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to most antibiotics, due to the production of enzymes such as NDM-1. Faced with this challenge, computational methods have become essential for the design of NDM-1 carbapenemase inhibitors, optimizing both the time and cost of the development of new lead molecules. In this study, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed in order to identify effective inhibitors against the NDM-1 enzyme.

Characterization of the Interaction of Human γS Crystallin with Metal Ions and Its Effect on Protein Aggregation.

Cataracts are diseases characterized by the opacity of the ocular lens and the subsequent deterioration of vision. Metal ions are one of the factors that have been reported to induce crystallin aggregation. For HγS crystallin, several equivalent ratios of Cu(II) promote protein aggregation.

Effect of a Single Live Group Music Therapy Intervention on Anxiety-State and Well-Being Levels During Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol.

Introduction: Many cancer patients experience high levels of anxiety during chemotherapy, which can negatively impact their mental health and their physiological, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Different complementary therapies aim to attenuate these effects, including music therapy. Although there is preliminary evidence on the positive effects of music therapy and music-based interventions in chemotherapy wards, few studies report live group interventions delivered by accredited music therapists.

Use of antibiotics in patients with chronic kidney disease: evidence from the real world.

Background: Most antibiotics require dose adjustments in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to avoid accumulation and toxicity. The aim was to characterize the use of systemic antibiotics in a group of patients with CKD and to adjust the dose according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Research Design And Methods: Observational study of patients with a diagnosis of CKD who received antibiotics between January-2021 July 2022.

Prevalence of refractive errors in school-aged and preadolescent children in Colombia.

Aim: To describe the distribution of refractive errors by age and sex among schoolchildren in Soacha, Colombia.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in five urban public schools in the municipality of Soacha. A total of 1161 school-aged and pre-adolescent children, aged 5-12y were examined during the school year 2021-2022.

Targeting H3N2 influenza: advancements in treatment and vaccine strategies.

Introduction: The emergence of the H3N2 influenza virus in 1968 marked a significant event as it crossed the species barrier. This shift led to a pandemic, resulting in the deaths of one million people globally and highlighting the virus's severe impact on older individuals due to antigenic drift.

Area Covered: This review comprehensively examines the virological characteristics, evolutionary trends, and global epidemiology of the Influenza A (H3N2) virus.

The Cooper-Pair Distribution Function of Untwisted-Misaligned Bilayer Graphene.

The Cooper-pair distribution function Dcp(ω,Tc) of Untwisted-Misaligned Bilayer Graphene (UMBLG) in the presence of an external electric field is calculated and analysed within the framework of first-principle calculations. A bilayer graphene structure is proposed using a structural geometric approximation, enabling the simulation of a structure rotated at a small angle, avoiding a supercell calculation. The Dcp(ω,Tc) function of UMBLG indicates the presence of the superconducting state for specific structural configurations, which is consistent with the superconductivity in Twisted Bilayer Graphene (TBLG) reported in the literature.

Conventional Radiotherapy Timing and Wound Complication Avoidance After Surgery for Metastatic Spine Disease. A LatAm Modified Delphi Study.

Background: Combining surgery and radiotherapy is the gold standard in treating spinal metastasis when spinal stabilization or surgical decompression is required. Determining the optimal timing for radiotherapy postsurgery is crucial to balance treatment efficacy minimizing wound complications. The study aimed to identify consensus and nonconsensus areas among Latin American spinal surgeons regarding the use, timing, risks, and surgical approach to conventional external beam radiotherapy (cEBRT) following spinal surgery for metastases, specifically focusing on the risk of radiotherapy-related wound complications.

Preoperative immunonutrition and postoperative outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery: Retrospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: Surgical resection is a first-line treatment for patients with cancer, but preoperative malnutrition is a risk factor for postoperative complications. This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative administration of an immunonutrition regimen and postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Methods: The Surgical Prehabilitation Multimodal Oncology (SUPREMO) retrospective cohort study, conducted from January 2021 to December 2023, included patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Ineffectiveness of Transfixing Sutures in Enhancing Weight Loss Following Gastric Plication: A Case Report.

Endoscopic gastric plication is an emerging procedure for obesity management, facilitated by advances in intraluminal suturing technology. However, concerns persist regarding the complete transfixion of sutures and their long-term durability. We present the case of a 28-year-old patient with a BMI of 31 kg/m² who underwent laparoscopic gastric plication using nonabsorbable sutures to ensure complete transfixion under direct visualization.

ID1 and ID3 functions in the modulation of the tumour immune microenvironment in adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Introduction: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in adults often presents a poor prognosis. ID1 and ID3 genes have been identified as predictors of poor response in Colombian adult B-ALL patients, contributing to cancer development. In various cancer models, these genes have been associated with immune regulatory populations within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

[Impact of educational intervention in a population with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Introduction: The complications associated with the chronic pathophysiological process of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a significant impact on the affected population. The Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24) determines the level of knowledge about diabetes, providing health professionals with information to carry out useful educational interventions and prevent both acute and chronic complications of the disease

Objective: To assess the long-term effect of implementing a hospital-based therapeutic diabetes education model (self-care and knowledge) on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a population from southern Colombia.

Materials And Methods: Longitudinal study, prospective type, conducted on 60 hospitalized T2DM patients.